Liquid meter



June 21 1927.

1,633,532 w. G. KENT LIQUID METER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1923 June 21 1927.

W. G. KENT LIQUID METER ts-Sheet 2 I w. s. KENT June 21; 1927.

' LIQUID METER Filed April 2, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 y 40 :22 1 m3: 1 V I I .46 o z y I I I Sr, WM? 5 Z2 0M) June 21 1927.

W. G. KENT LIQUID METER Filed April 2, 19254 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III Patented June 21, 19271."-

- mechanism or Y of feed to a boiler'and'the' rate of may be located anywhere between the indi-:'

' the recording mechanism. I

UNITED. STATES WALTER GEORGE KENT, 01' LONDON, ENGLAND.

LIQUID METER.

Application filed April 2, 1988, Serial No. 689,859, and. in Great Britain April 5, 1922.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid meters of the type in which there is inserted in the pipe conveyin the liquid to be measured a constriction, on ce, Pitot tube or other device, from which diiierentpressures can be conveyed to the two legs of U tube inwhich is a liquid such as mercury with a float resting upon the mercury in one leg and carrying a rod which actuates a for producin ah diagram, or integrating According to this invention I connect the float rod by a link to an arm on a spindle which passes out through the wall of the mercury chamber or U tube and by its rotation actuates a rod carryingthe record pen or planimeter wheel or both: when the pressure difiere'nce is small the link and arm are nearly coincident so that the angle through which the spindle-is turned by a small movement of the floatis lar e when the pressure diiierence is small, an the angle through which the spindle is turned by anequal movement ofthe float'diminishes as the pressure difference increases. I preferably mount on the spindle outside the mercury chamber a cam round which is wrapped a lightflexible hand which supports the lower end of the rod carrying the Wheel. AlsoI pre erably so shape one or both of the legs of the U tube that themovement of the float is at its maximum for the lowest pressure difierences.

Inorder also that such a meter may be suitable formeasuring a rapidly fluctuating flow such as occurs w en mcasurin the rate ow of the condensate water, 1 preferably insert inthe rod carrying the pen andor planimeter wheel -a-dashpot; this I" do y dividing the rod into two portions and connecting the lower portion to a dashpot by a spiral spring,

while the upper portion is'connected to the piston of the da shpot,' which is held centrally by springs in' the dashpot. It is obvious,'however, that the dashpotand spring eating mechanism and its actuating means.

By this device any very sudden or violent fluctuations of the pressure difi'erence are absorbed before theresultant-motion reaches By this invention I obtain the power with the minimum-quantit of mercury in the U tube and an equa y spaced movement giving the correct mean registrapen and/or planimeter I maximum of tion instead of a movement due to the mean pressure dilference, whilst friction in the whole apparatus is reduced to a minimum and violent fluctuations in the mercury level are damped out.

While I am aware that hitherto the legs of the U tubes have been shaped to proport1on the movements of the indicating or the recording means to the rate of flow, so far as Iam aware I am the first to provide the combinatlon of the link and arm mechanism described above with a modified U tube to accurately pro ortion said movement, especiall when t e pressure difference is small.

T ese and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a. description of one embodiment thereof such as is shown in the accompanying drawings of a standard Von-- turi meter register.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 of which is a side View and Figure 2 a front View, Fig. 2' being an extension of Fig. 2 indicating the portion of the apparatus above the marginal line on the sheet,- while Figure'3 is an enlarged section through of the U tube, Figure 3 being an extension of'Figure 3 mdicating the portion of the apparatus shown above the marginal lineon the sheet, Figure 4 is a .view at ri ht angles to Figure 3, Figure 5 is an enlarge sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2,

and Figure ti is a sectional view. taken along the line 6-6 of'Figurefi. 1

In the drawings, wherein like characters ard type for fluid meters rof'the venturi or part of the float leg "of reference-indicate like parts throughout,

10 generally indicates a register of a stand like type. Said register 10 normally conin these two chambers or I legs, Whether the U tube-1 1 having the two legs 12 and whole is strictly speaking of true U-shape or otherwise." v s The pipe 18' connects the top of .theJeg 12 with the up-stream'end of a Venturi tube,

and the pipe 19 connects the top of the leg -'13 with the throat of aVenturi tube (not these shown), though it is obvious that device suitable for lie I pipes may be connected to any suitable metering pressure difference producer. In the embodiment'shown a drain cook 15 is normally provided in the pipe 14, and a by pass line 21 containing the valve 21 connects the'legs l2 and 13 to equalize the pressure between them when the valve 21 is opened. A float 22 (Fig. 3) normally rides on the liquid 16 contained in. the leg 12. A. displacement plunger 23 is adjustably mounted in the leg 12 to vary the height of the liquid 16 therein when desired. Said float 22 has a rod 24 projecting u wards therefrom. This rod 24 is preferab y constrained to reciprocate in a vertical direction only by two pairs of guide rollers 26 and 28 suitably mounted in brackets 29 attached to the interior of the leg l2.

A. pair of links 31 are suitably pivoted to lugs 32 projecting from each side of the rod 24. The outer ends of said links 31 are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the arms by the pivot pins 36. The arms 40 are provided at their opposite ends with the collars 41 which are adapted to be firmly secured to a spindle or shaft 45 which is revolvably mounted in bearings 46 attached to the leg 12. The stuffing box 47 is provided for said shaft 45 to seal said leg 12. In the embodiment shown, the spindle 45 projects through the side of the leg 12. It is obvious that variations of pressure difiference between the up-stream end and throat of the Venturi tube will cause the liquid 16 to flow proportionately from the leg 12 to the leg 13 and vice versa, and when there is no fluid flowing through the conduit the float 22 will be in zero position. Acting through the medium of the apparatus above described, variation in the rate of flow will thus cause the oscillating movement of the spindle 45. Due to the arm and link connection above described, it is obvious that the angle through which the spindle 45 is turned in consequence of a small movement of the float 22 from the zero position of,

I Fig. 3 is large as compared with the angle through which the spindle 45 will be turned" by thesame movement of the float 22 when the difl'erence between the upstream and throat pressurev is large, which will considerably lessen the modification of shape of the U tube necessary to provide forlmovement of the indicating means proportionate to the rate of flow.

To accurately proportion the movement of the spindle 45 to the rate of flow, the leg 13 of the U tube is shaped as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 contracting rapidly at 50 near its base. This assists the action produced by the link-and arm mechanism described above in permitting large movement of the float for small variations of pressure difference when the pressure difl'erence is small. Toward the upper end of the leg 13 the bore increases slowly as shown at 51 to increase the movements of the float 22 because at large pressure differences the aforedoscribed movement of the spindle 45 due to the link and arm mechanism is smaller than it should be for correct registration.

To transmit the movement of the spindle 45 to the indicating and recording mechanism I provide the mechanism to be de scribed. A cam 55 is mounted on said leg 7 12 so as to be actuated by the spindle 45. One end of a flexible band 56 is attached to the outer periphery of said cam'55, so as to permit wrapping of said band 56 around the outer periphery of said cam. The outer end of said band 56 is attached to the rod 59 which may reciprocate in one direction preferably vertically and which carries means for indicating and integrating its motion later to be described.

In the preferred embodiment shown, I resiliently connect said indicating means with the actuating mechanism thereof so as to permit the actuating mechanism to follow rapid fluctuations in the rate of flow without imparting them to the indicating mechanism, and I provide in further combination therewith means to dampen the movement of the indicating means. Though I have shown in my preferred embodiment a mercury U tube as an integral part of the indicating means actuating mechanism, it is obvious that in so far as my invention includes the combination of an indicating means resiliently connected to its actuating 10o mechanism with a dampening means for said indicating means, that any suitable indicating means actuating mechanism such as a diaphragm, etc. may be employed. Though I have shown a spring as the prc- 5 ferred embodiment of the resilient means to connect the indicating means having a movement substantially proportionate to the rate of flow with its actuating mechanism, it is obvious that an electric or other resilient 110 connecting means may be employed. It is also apparent that although a piston and dashpot have been provided in the preferred embodiment for dampening the motion of the indicating means, electromagnetic or other suitable dampening means may be I employed.

Said means in the embodimentshown are provided as follows: The cam 55 is securely mounted on the shaft 45 near the outer end thereof, the shaft 45 bein held 12 in position by the thrust bearing 5 As stated previously I provide means to dampen the movement of the rod 59 which is con nected to the indicating means as about to be explained. In, the preferred embodiment shown this comprises a dashpot 60. The cylinder 61 of said dashpot 60 has a hollow sleeve 62 projecting downwards therefrom,

in which the upper end of the rod 59 may reciprocate. I preferably resiliently connect the upper end of the rod 59 to the base of the cylinder 61 of the dash 0t 60 by the spiral spring 63, one end 0 said spiral spring being preferably secured to the base of the cylinder 61 by registering in'the hole '64 provided therein therefor and being see cured therein by the screw 65 and the 0pposite end of sand spiral spring 63 re istering in a hole 66 therefor in the col 'ar 67 and being retained thereinb the screw 68, said collar 67 being secure to the upper end of the rod 59 by; per end of said das pct 61 is provided-with the piston hole 70. The lower extremity of the indicating rod 92 is preferably enlarged as at 71 to form the piston head, [the lower end 72 of said rod' thus forming the piston of said dash pot 60 andv being adapted to reci rocate through the ,hole 7 0. n my pre erred embodiment I have shown the piston rod 72 for purposes of assembly and adjustment as detachable from the indicating rod 92 by means of sleeve and collar construction and set screw 94. The dashpot contains the usual working liquid 73, preferably oil. The piston head 71 which may be considered as the lower end of the indicating rod 92 is preferably held centrally of the dashpot 60 by the springs 75 and 76, the upper spring 75 abutting the upper end of the piston head 71 and the uper end of the piston cylinder 61, and the ower spring 76 abutting the lower end of the iston 71 and the lower end of the piston cylinder 61. The spindle 45 thus operates to actuate the indicating rod 92 as follows: On decrease in the rate of flow and hence decrease in the pressure differential pro." 108d, liquid 16 in the leg 12 will rise forcing the float 22 up with it. This will revolve the spindle 45, said movement P transmitted through the cam 55 and 56 to raise the rod 59. The rod 59 bein ban being resiliently attached to the dashpot 60' by means of the spiral spring 63 will force the dashpot 6O upwards which through the medium of the spiral springs 75 and 76 therein and the fluid 7.3 of the dashpot 60 will raise the piston head 71 of the piston rod 72 thereb forcing the indicating rod 92 upwards. t is ObVlOllS that the springs 63, 75 and '76 will absorb an violent fluctuations in the movement of therod 59 and thefluid 73 of the dashpot 60 will tend to dampen the movement of the indicating rod 92. On increase ofrateof flow it is obvious that the reverse of this operation will take y the springs functioning to absorb any place, violent fluctuations and the dashpot 60 to dampen the movement of the indicating rod 92. It is thus obvious that by means of the resilient connection between the indicating rod 92 and the actuating spindle 45 and the dampening mechanism interposed therebetween, that any very sudden or violentflucframe 102 therein. the screw 69. The uption to the, rate of flow.

tuation of the pressure difierential is ab sorbed before the resultant motion reaches the recording mechanism.

The indicatin and-recording mechanism is of the standard type used in registers, and functions in the usual manner and so 'I will just briefly register box having the usual-windows 99 is mounted as usual on top of the leg, 12. The 01001: 101 is suitabl mountedon the ing mechanism of the clock 101 and 105 the ndulum thereof suitably connected thererefer to, the parts shown. The Y -15 104 i lustrates the wind to. The clock 101 revolves the integrating disk 106. The inte ating mechanism .110 is mounted on the mine 112 permanently secured on the box 100. The integrating wheel 115 is mounted on a sleeve 114 rotat-- ably mounted on. the rod 92 and secured thereto against up I the nut 116.. The sleeve 114 projects downvVardly a distance. and has its major length toothed at 118 for a purpose to be described.

wheel 115 is driven by con.- disk 106, which 1n 114. The

The integrating tact with the integrating turn drives the integral sleeve toothed portion 118 of thesleeve 114 drives the gear 119 which in turn drives the inteating mechanism 110. 1 It is obvious that a speed at which the integrating mechanism is driven will depend on the position of the wheel on the disk 106, and that the length of-the toothed rtion 118 will atall times permit it to drive the gear 119 of the integrating mechanism.

The raphical recording mechanism includes t e. drum 120 revolved at the desired speed by the clock 101. Chart aper 121-is suitably placed around said rum. The

member 123 is ad'ustably secured'to the upr portion of t e rod Said member 123 has open 124 at one end thereof adapted to bear against the'paper 121 and record the vertical displacement of the. rod 92 thereon, and has at the opposite end a pointer 126 toindic'ate the heig t 92 against the scale 128 permanently attached within said box 100. T e spring-130 presses therod 92 inwards so that the pen 124- may bear a ainst the paper 121 and the integrating w eel 115' against the integrating disk 106.

I employ the word indicating to designate either. showing, recording, integratin or all severally or entirely combined. employ the phrase meter of the venturi t pe to include meters such as are used to indicate the flow of fluidsthrough conduits in which there is inserted in the conduit conveying the fluid measured a pressure difference producer such as Venturi tube, orifice, Pitot tube or other device in which the pressure differential bears a definite relaunderstood that my and down movement bymvention is not of the rod I type, the combination of a modified U-tube 1 [for containing the working liquid having means therein'actuated by the height of the liquid in one leg thereof,. an oscillatable spindle, an arm rigidl secured to said oscillatable. spindle, a ink connecting said arm with said liquid actuated means in the leg of the U-tube, indicating means for said register and means connecting said indicating means to said spindle, the link and arm belng so arrange-d that the angle through which the spindle is turned by a definite movement of said liquid actuated means is larger at small pressure diflerences than at mounted on said register to reciprocate in large pressure differences and the U-tube being so shaped that the movement of the indicating means israte of flow.

. 2. In a register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube for containing the working liquid, a float resting on said liquid in one leg thereof having a rod extending upwards therefrom, means in said U-tube constraining said rod to reciprocate in a vertical direction, an

proportionate to the oscillatable spindle offset from said floatrod, an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a link connecting said rod and arm, a cam actuated by said spindle, an indicating rod mounted on said register to reciprocate in one chrection, flexible means connectmg said rod and cam, the llllk and arm bem so arranged that the angle through whlch the spindle is turned by a definite movement of the float is larger at small pressure differ ences than at large pressure differences and the U-tube being so shaped that the move ment of the indicating rod is proportionate to the" rate of flow. I

3. In aregister for meters of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube for containing the working liquid, lja float resting on said li uid in one leg thereof having a rod exten ing upwards therefrom, means in'said U-tube constraining said rod to reciprocate in a vertical direction, an osci'llatable spindle offset from said float rod, an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a link connecting said rod and arm, a cam actuated by said spindle, an indicating rod one directon, a flexible band connecting said rod to said cam, the link and arm being so 7 arranged that the angle through Whichthe' ipindle is turned by a definite movement of the float is larger at small pressure differ.

ences than at large pressure differences and the U-tube being so shaped that the move- 'liquid in one leg thereof, an oscillatable spindle. an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a link connecting said liquid actuated means with said arm, indicating means for said register, resilient means connecting said indicating means to said spindle and means to dampen thennovement of said indicating means, having one portion thereof connected to said indicating means and another portion thereof connected to another part of said register, the link and arm being so arranged that the angle; through which the spindle is turned by a definite movement of the fluid actuated means is larger at small pressure differences than at large pressure differences and the U-tube being vso shaped that the movement of the indicating means is proportionate to the rate of flow.

5. In a-register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube for containing the working liquid having means therein actuated by the height of p the liquid in one leg thereof, an oscillatable' spindle, an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a link connecting said liquid actuated means and said arm, a cam actuated by said spindle, indicating means for said register, resilient means connecting said indicating means to said cam and means to dampen themovement of said indicating means having one portion thereof connected to said indicating means and another portion thereof connected to another part of said register,

type, the combination of a modifiedU-tube for containingthe working liquid, a float resting on the liquid in one leg thereof having a rod extending upwards therefrom, means in said U-tube constraining said rod to reciprocate in a vertical direction, an oscillatable spindle offset from said float rod,

an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a

link connecting said float rod and arm, a

cam actuated by said spindle, an indicating rod mounted on said register to reciprocate in one direction, flexible means connecting said indicating rod to said cam and a dashpot for said indicating rod to dampen the movement thereof, having a portion thereof connected to said indicating rod and another portion thereof connected to another part of no i said register, the link and arm being so arranged that the angle through which the spindle isturned by a definite movement of the float is larger at small pressure differences than at large pressure differences and the U-tube being so shaped that the movement of the reciprocable rod is proportionate to the rate of flow.

means therein actuated by 7 In a register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube nected to another part .of the register, the

' link and arm bein angle through whic the spin leis turned whic so arran ed that the is larger at small pressure differences than at large pressure diflerences and the ,U-tube being so shaped that the movement of the indicating means is proportionate to the rate of flow.

8. In a register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube for containing the workingliquidhaving means therein actuated by the height of the liquid in one leg thereof, an oscillatable spindle, an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a link connecting said liquid actuated means and arm, a camactuated by said spindle, indicating means for said register,

resilient means connecting said indicating means to said cam and a dashpot having a piston connected to said indicatin means, and the cylinder thereof connec to another part of the register, the link and, arm so arranged that the angle through the s indle is turned by a definlte bein movement 0 the liquid actuated means is larger at small ressure differences than at large pressure 'fierences and the U-tube being so shaped that the movement of the indicating means is proportionate to the rate of flow.

a 9. In a register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube for containing the workin li uid, a float resting on the surface of t e liquid in one leg thereof having a rod extending upwards therefrom, means in said U-tube constraining said float rod to reci rocate. in a vertical direction, an oscillatablb spindle offset from said float rod, an arm rigidly secured to said spindle, a link connecting said float rod and arm, a cam actuated by said spindle, a rod mounted on said register to reciprocate in one direction, a band connecting said rod to the periphery .of said cam, a dash pot, a spiral spring connecting the upper end of said e height of the 'rod to the dash pot, a rod carrying means for indicating its motion mounted in said regisdash pot, the link and arm being so arranged that the angle through which the spindle is turned by a definite movement ofthe float is larger at small pressure differences than large pressure differences. I

10. In a register of the venturi type, the combination of a modified U-tube for containingthe worki'ngdliquid, indicating means, means actuated bythe height of the liquid in one leg of said U-tube to actuate said indicatin fmeans, resilient means connecting said indicating means to said actuating means, and means to dampen the movement of said indicating means having one portion thereof connected to said indicatin means and another portion thereof connecte to another part of said register,'the U-tube being so shaped that the movement of the indicating means is proportionate .to the rate of flow.

11; In a register of the venturi type, the combination of a modified .U-tube for containing the working liquid, indicating means,

means actuated by the height of the liquid in one leg of said U-tube to actuate said indicating means, a spiral spring connecting said indicating means to said actuating means and a dash pot to dam en the movement of said indicating means avin' a portion thereof connected to said. in eating means and another portion thereof connected to another part of said register, the U-tube being so shapedthat the movement of the indicating means is proportionate to the rate of flow.

12. In a register for meters of the venturi pe, the combination of indicating means or said register, actuating mechanismfor said indicating means having a part thereof 'which moves freely in substantially direct proportion to the rate of flows, resilient means connectin said indicatin means with said freely moving part of said actuating mechanism and means to dam the move- I ment of said'indicating means avm a portion thereof connected to said in icating means and another portion thereof connected to another part of said register.

13. In a register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of indicating means for said register, actuating mechanism for said indicating means having a part thereof which moves freely in substantially direct proportion to the rataof flow, a spiral sprin connecting said indicatin means with said freely moving part of sald actuating mechanism and a dash pot; to dam n the movement of said indicating means avin a portion thereof connected to said in 'cating means and another portion thereof connected to another part of the register; a 14. In a register for meters of the venturl type, the combination of indicating means for said register, actuating mechanism for i said indicating, means actuated by the rate of flow of fluid in a conduit, resilient means connecting said indicating means with saidconnected to another part of said register.

15. In a register for meters of the ventliri type, the combination of indicating means for said register, actuating mechanism for i said indicating means actuated by the rate I of flow of fluid in a conduit, a spiral'spring connecting saidindicating means with said actuating mechanism and a dash pot to dampen the movement of said indicating.

.. means having a portion thereof connected to said indicating means and another portion connected to another part of said register.

16. In a register for meters of the venturi' type, the combination of indicating means for said register, a' dash pot having two portions, means connecting one portion thereof to said actuating mechanism, means connecting the other portion thereof to said indicating means, one-' of said connecting means being resilient and resilient means connecting said dash'potportions.

p 17. In a register for meters of the venturi type, the combination of indicating means for said register, actuating mechanism for said indicating means, a dash pot having a cylinder and a pistomsaidpiston being attached to said indicating means, resilient means connecting said cylinder to said actu-' ating mechanism and resilient meansxconnectmg said piston with said cylinder to hold said piston centrally ofsaid dash pot.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this fourteenth day of March, 1923.

WALTER GEORGE KENT 

